Israeli Police Chief Looking Into Legalizing Medical Marijuana

Israel Police Chief Insp. Gen. Yochanan Danino said he has decided to establish a professional committee to investigate the cannabis policies of other western nations and look into the ramifications of making medical marijuana use legal in Israel.

“What will eventually happen here [in Israel] is that anyone with money will be able to get a permit [for medical marijuana], and anyone who doesn’t have money will be trying to get [cannabis] on the streets,” Danino told Israel Hayom. “Things are happening in the world, so we can’t stick our heads in the sand. We need to deal with this issue.”

Danino said that four years ago, some 400 Israelis had secured medical marijuana permits, “but in no time, there are 20,000 permits today.”

“Throughout the world, this has been a method of making [cannabis] legal,” he said. “In California you can walk around in plenty of places and see signs offering a fake permit for medical marijuana for $50. We in Israel don’t want that. Because if we really want to change the law and decriminalize [cannabis] use, or make some drugs legal, let’s do it properly.”